CENTRAL HOCKEY LEAGUE Steelhounds sign SPHL veteran Lorne Misita

YOUNGSTOWN -- The Youngstown SteelHounds have signed center Lorne Misita to a contract. Misita, 24, was a member of the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL) champion Columbus (Ga.) Cottonmouths last season, leading the team with 74 points (30-44 -74) in the regular season. The Niagara Falls, Ontario, native finished his first professional season ranking among the SPHL league leaders with 74 points (5th), 30 goals (8th), 44 assists (6th) and a .190 shooting percentage (2nd). Misita also finished with seven powerplay goals, three game-winning goals and two shorthanded goals. Playoff experience In five playoff games, Misita scored two goals and had two helpers. He also dressed in two games for the South Carolina Stingrays of the ECHL. "Lorne Misita is a young player who competes hard in all facets of the game," SteelHounds coach Jean Laforest said. "He does possess some offensive abilities and is capable of playing on both the power play and penalty kill. "He is a graduate of the Atlantic Conference of the CIS [UPEI] which is a tremendous league with respect to the development of recruits for professional hockey," Laforest said. The 5-11, 190-pound center played three seasons in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) and three seasons playing collegiate hockey at the University of Prince Edward Island (CIS). His best junior season came with the North Bay Centennials (OHL) during the 1998-99 season when he notched 18 goals and 24 assists. His collegiate career saw him dress in 79 games scoring 15 goals with 34 helpers. Training camp for the SteelHounds' inaugural season begins in early October.